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News :: Right Wing |
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StopSinclair.org |
Current rating: 0 |
by gehrig
Email: zemblan (nospam) earthlink.net (verified) |
12 Oct 2004
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Website coordinating protest/boycott against Sinclair for their blatantly illegal in-kind donation to the Bush campaign.
@%< |
See also:
http://www.stopsinclair.org
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This work is in the public domain |
Comments
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Re: StopSinclair.org |
by pm
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Oct 2004
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It's occurred to me that something people could do locally is increase awareness of companies that advertise during the Channel 15 news (where Mark Hyman's commentaries air nightly). Someone just needs to watch the news and keep a list of the advertisers, then publish them here. |
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Boycott list |
by gehrig
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Oct 2004
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http://www.boycottsbg.com/advertisers/default.aspx
@%< |
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more on Sinclair |
by gehrig
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Oct 2004
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And here's USA Today, calling Sinclair "barely profitable and laden with debt." And noting that shares in Sinclair have "lost about half their value in 2004."
http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2004-10-11-sinclair_x.htm
@%< |
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Mark Hyman's damage control causes more damage |
by gehrig
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Oct 2004
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And, piling on:
http://www.adl.org/media_watch/newspapers/20041011-WashPost.htm
I can't say I'm much of a fan of Foxman, but the idea of Mark Hyman with the ADL on his ass makes me want to buy a bottle of champagne.
@%< |
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FCC COMMISSIONER STATEMENT ON SINCLAIR AIRING OF ANTI-KERRY SHOW |
by Scott Edwards
scottisimo (nospam) hotmail.com (verified) |
Current rating: 0
12 Oct 2004
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this is really picking up steam. below is Copps comment....
Commissioner Michael J. Copps reacted to reports that Sinclair Broadcast Group will preempt more than 60 local stations across the country to air an overtly political program in the days prior to the Presidential election.
Copps stated: “This is an abuse of the public trust. And it is proof positive of media consolidation run amok when one owner can use the public airwaves to blanket the country with its political ideology -- whether liberal or conservative. Some will undoubtedly question if this is appropriate stewardship of the public airwaves. This is the same corporation that refused to air Nightline’s reading of our war dead in Iraq. It is the same corporation that short-shrifts local communities and local jobs by distance-casting news and weather from hundreds of miles away. It is a sad fact that the explicit public interest protections we once had to ensure balance continue to be weakened by the Federal Communications Commission while it allows media conglomerates to get even bigger. Sinclair, and the FCC, are taking us down a dangerous road.” |
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NYTimes masthead editorial: "Dangerous Territory" |
by nytimes via gehrig
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
15 Oct 2004
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October 15, 2004
Dangerous Territory
The Sinclair Broadcasting Group, one of the nation's most powerful television conglomerates, has a sad record of using its public license to promote Republican causes. Earlier this year, Sinclair tried to censor an installment of "Nightline" on its 62 stations when Ted Koppel announced plans to read out the names of soldiers killed in Iraq. Now the company, owned by financial backers of President Bush and other Republican politicians, plans to actively join the re-election campaign.
Its plan sounds like the plot of a bad political novel, or an actual election in post-Soviet Russia. The Times and other newspapers reported this week that Sinclair, a Maryland-based company that reaches nearly a quarter of American households, would broadcast a propaganda film in the next two weeks that labels Senator John Kerry a liar, a traitor and a "willing accomplice" of the enemy during the Vietnam War. It claims, falsely, that his antiwar statements inspired the North Vietnamese to step up the torture of American prisoners, and it is filled with other distortions about the war in Vietnam.
Sinclair has instructed its stations, which are heavily represented in swing states like Florida and Wisconsin, to run the film without commercials in the evening. The company already compels them to broadcast editorials and commentaries favorable to Mr. Bush and his policies. But this is a whole new arena, and little different from making the stations give donations to the Republican campaign.
We would be just as appalled if one of the major networks forced its affiliates to broadcast "Fahrenheit 9/11" next week and call it a news program.
The movie that caught Sinclair's eye, a 45-minute diatribe called "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," rehashes Republican charges that are familiar to everyone from the latest round of ads attacking Mr. Kerry's antiwar activities: primarily that he lied to the Senate in 1971 about atrocities in Vietnam and that his testimony and the antiwar movement in general aided the North Vietnamese and harmed American soldiers. This line of reasoning neatly dovetails with the Bush campaign's assertions that criticizing Mr. Bush's conduct of the war in Iraq is unpatriotic and harms American soldiers.
Eighteen Democratic senators asked the Federal Communications Commission to stop Sinclair from broadcasting the new film, but the commission was right to refuse. As painful as it is to defend this agency, which has shown more interest in Janet Jackson's breast than in really doing its job, we believe that the federal government cannot indulge in that sort of prior restraint.
But the F.C.C. also cannot ignore Sinclair's poor record when it comes to meeting its obligation to act responsibly and fairly in the public interest, a duty it assumed when it accepted custody of a license to broadcast on the public airwaves. Broadcasting "Stolen Honor" within two weeks of the election would clearly violate those commitments.
Sinclair says it is just trying to give its viewers news. Unfortunately, this film is not news, and not journalism. It makes no attempt at balance or fairness. Its interviews with 17 men who were imprisoned and tortured in Hanoi are powerful. But the narrator and producer, Carlton Sherwood, a former journalist on leave from his job in a company that provides "homeland security" services to the government, exploits these brave men and their distinguished service for a cause that he openly says is personal.
Sinclair's First Amendment defenses lack credibility because it denied those rights to "Nightline." At the time, Sinclair's spokesman, Mark Hyman, who doubles as a conservative commentator, said Mr. Koppel's program did not deserve to be broadcast because it had "no proportionality" and ignored other aspects of the issues. It was hard to see how that could describe a tribute to the war dead, but it's a perfect description of "Stolen Honor."
Yesterday, Mr. Hyman seemed to be hedging a bit on Sinclair's plans, saying the program was not finished and would be balanced. But it was unnerving to hear him adhere to his bizarre claim that the major broadcast networks who wisely declined to run "Stolen Honor" when Mr. Sherwood offered it to them were no different than "Holocaust deniers."
If the company is thinking about seriously changing course, it should do it quickly. Sinclair is in dangerous territory. If television companies force their local stations to campaign blatantly, it will not be long before the administrations that have the power to grant licenses begin expecting such favors as a quid pro quo. And the public will question whether it can afford to allow such concentrations of power in the hands of huge media corporations.
Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company |
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Re: StopSinclair.org |
by pm
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
15 Oct 2004
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The boycott list is great, but it's awfully big. A list of LOCAL advertisers would let people hurt Channel 15, which would then force their management to confront the corporate-level managers. It might not hurt to meet with the station manager with some boycott flyers ready to go (use the advertisers' own logos from the newspaper, if they can be found).
I'd help, but alas...no Sinclair stations around here. |
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press release from Sinclair |
by prnewswire via gehrig
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
15 Oct 2004
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Sinclair Warns of Email Spoof
BALTIMORE, Oct 15, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI) is notifying the public of an email spoof that attempts to make the recipient believe that they are receiving an email from Sinclair's CEO David Smith. The email is entitled, "Update on Kerry POW Film and FEC Ruling." Recipients should ignore and delete any such correspondence. Sinclair would also urge that any purported communication coming from a Sinclair executive or employee be confirmed as authentic.
Sinclair is in the process of tracking the sender of the email spoof and will determine whether to proceed with civil charges. Anyone found to be creating, forwarding, or posting such false emails may also face civil action.
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies, owns and operates, programs, or provides sales services to 62 television stations in 39 markets. Sinclair's television group includes FOX, WB, ABC, CBS, NBC and UPN affiliates and reaches approximately 24% of all U.S. television households.
SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
Barry Faber, General Counsel, Sinclair Broadcast Group,
+1-410-568-1500
/Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110203.html
http://www.sbgi.net
Copyright (C) 2004 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. |
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WGME Loses Ads Over Plan to Air Anti-Kerry Film |
by Ray Routhier
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
15 Oct 2004
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WGME's plan to air a documentary critical of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry prompted three Maine companies Thursday to pull their advertising from the Portland TV station.
Hannaford supermarkets, the Lee Auto Malls, and the law offices of Joe Bornstein withdrew their advertising indefinitely from WGME (Channel 13) over its plans to air "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal" on Oct. 23.
WGME's owner, Sinclair Broadcast Group, has ordered its 62 TV stations in local markets across the country to air the film without commercials.
The film shows Vietnam War veterans criticizing Kerry - a fellow veteran - for opposing the war after he served.
Alan Cartwright, WGME's general manager, declined to comment when contacted.
Hannaford, based in Scarborough with 46 supermarkets in Maine, decided to pull its ads so its name would not be associated with the film.
"Hannaford is apolitical, and our employees have varying views on issues," said Caren Epstein, Hannaford's spokeswoman. "We object to being positioned politically."
Epstein said she did not know how much Hannaford spends on advertising with WGME, but noted that the chain advertises on other Maine TV stations as well. She said Hannaford's ads will stay off WGME at least until after the documentary is aired.
Adam Lee, president of Lee Auto Malls, decided to pull his company's ads because he believes airing the documentary is unfair.
"I'm torn. I think the press should be able to print and air what they want, but doing this just before an election, without advertising and without a rebuttal, is not fair," said Lee.
Lee, who appears in his company's ads, would not say how much his advertising is worth to WGME. He said he did a "fair amount" of advertising with WGME, but does more with WCSH-TV (Channel 6).
Bornstein, who has offices in Portland and Bangor, said that having his ads on WGME during this controversy made him "uncomfortable."
"This is really an issue of fairness in broadcasting and Maine has been dragged into it," said Bornstein.
Advertisers on Sinclair stations in other cities have received calls and e-mail, but published reports as of Thursday listed only a few who have actually pulled advertising.
Ads are an important source of revenue for local TV stations, which compete mightily for good ratings because they determine ad rates.
Word of Sinclair's planned airings hit the news media earlier this week. Democratic members of Congress and Democratic Party officials called for a Federal Communications Commission investigation of Sinclair, some saying that the airing may be tantamount to an in-kind campaign contribution to President Bush.
In Maine, angry viewers flooded WGME with calls and e-mail to protest the airing.
People who call the station are told to dial a specific voice mailbox set up to handle comments on the documentary. There is also an area on the station's Web site (www.wgme13.com) that allows people to e-mail comments to Sinclair directly.
Mark Hyman, Sinclair's vice president for corporate communications, did not return phone calls Thursday.
Some Mainers angry over the documentary have also started e-mail, letter and phone call campaigns aimed at trying to get businesses to pull their advertising from WGME.
But officials at Hannaford, Lee Auto Malls and Joe Bornstein said calls and e-mail were not their primary reasons for pulling ads, though they were aware of them.
The program is scheduled to air on WGME from 8 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 23, replacing a repeat of the CBS crime drama "Cold Case." The film is to be followed by a panel discussion, and on some Sinclair stations the total program will run for 90 minutes.
"Stolen Honor" includes interviews with veterans who charge that Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran himself, prolonged the war by speaking against it publicly after his tour of duty had ended. The film was funded by a veterans group and produced by a former Washington Times reporter.
Sinclair stations reach about a quarter of all U.S. TV viewers.
The company has been criticized for using its power to support conservative causes. The company tapes nightly commentary pieces - featuring company vice president Hyman - and has its local stations air them.
During an 11-day period in September, seven of the pieces focused on Kerry and were critical of him.
The increasing partisanship may represent a growing trend in local TV broadcasting.
During the first 40 years of commercial television, broadcasters were required by the federal government to provide equal time to political candidates during an election and to provide programming that was in "the public interest."
But the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" was abolished in 1987 as part of deregulation in the TV industry. In the 1990s, further deregulation allowed companies to own large numbers of stations, giving them more power and influence over the airwaves.
"This (the controversy over Sinclair's programming) may lead to re-regulation, to a closer look at how license holders use the airwaves," said Jill Geisler, a former TV news director and head of leadership programs at the Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school for journalists in St. Petersburg, Fla.
© Copyright 2004 Blethen Newspapers
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com |
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Re: StopSinclair.org |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
15 Oct 2004
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I am sorry but I thought we had freedom of speech in this country. Why can't people who fought in Vietnam and who happen to disagree with the outrageous accusations of John Kerry defend themselves in a network documentary?
If you choose not to watch, that is your choice. Just like it was my choice not to support Michael Moore's so called, and now completely discredited Fairenheit 911.
In any event, you are free to boycott Sinclair with your collective purchasing power of about $ 11.00, This will surely stick a fork in them.
Jack |
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Kerry offered time to answer questions by Sinclair |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
16 Oct 2004
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If John Kerry, the winner of three purple hearts (although he never spent the night in the hospital) and who left his tour after 4 months in Vietnam is so outraged questions about his service, perhaps he should take up Sinclair on their offer of an interview to put his side of the story in play.
Jack |
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Re: StopSinclair.org |
by Mary
mary.rickard (nospam) sbcglobal.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
17 Oct 2004
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I am on a listserve for MoveOn and can get a DVD of Kerry's war record shipped overnight free for a public showing if I can find a venue and promote. Today is Sunday so don't know if I can find a room on campus easily. Anyone have any interest in helping - I can't do it alone as I have mid-term exams this week. |
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Re: StopSinclair.org |
by NRA4Freedom
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
18 Oct 2004
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I think it is terribly sad that this thread so easily exposes some people here for what they truly are, liberal Democrats. I didn't see any thread demanding a boycott against anyone when Moore started showing his movie all over the country and advertising it. But here are some people, people who truly should have a voice in America because they gave up years of their lives sitting in a prison camp FOR their Country, and the mainstream media wants to ignore them, and the liberal Democrats what to shut them up.
I say, this is America...where we actually have the right to free speech. Let these men speak, and let Mr. Kerry either apologize to them or prove that they are liars and sue them for libel. But to work to suppress ANYONES right to free speech is truly un America...actually, it is worse than un American.
I cannot imagine that anyone at IMC truly believes in purposely hindering these veterans freedom of speech, so I can only conclude that the people advocating the ideals in this thread are not a part of IMC at all, but rather, just your plain old dirty trick liberal Democrats...USING IMC to further ideals and agenda. Disgusting. |
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Re: StopSinclair.org |
by hawk
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
22 Jul 2005
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UK Gay Leaders Receive Islamist Death Threats
By Malcolm Thornberry
365Gay.com | July 22, 2005
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=18867 |
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